History of the LTA

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In 2006 I had never heard of lymphedema, but after the birth of my 
twin boys, Devdan and Dylan, that would soon change. 

Dylan was eventually diagnosed with primary lymphedema and 
was prescribed his first compression garment at seven months 
of age. Upon learning of the coverage problems I reached out to 
Bob Weiss (pictured with me below), who is a long-time 
patient advocate and runs the website LymphActivist. 
He gave me invaluable advice and support.

I spent the better part of Dylan’s first two years of life 
appealing denials, which led me to the decision that I would rather 
work to fix the problem once and for all for everyone, 
than just continually fighting for coverage for Dylan.

In 2009, I worked with my State Representative, Tricia Cotham 
(seen below with Dylan and I), to introduce and pass a
North Carolina State Lymphedema Treatment Mandate. 

Later that year, I met with my Congressman, Larry Kissell 
(center in the photo below), who agreed to introduce a federal bill. 
The first version of the LTA, entitled the Lymphedema Diagnosis 
and Treatment Cost Saving Act of 2010, was born!

After shepherding the bill through two sessions of Congress, 
Kissell was not reelected. We approached Congressman 
Dave Reichert (pictured below, center) to be our lead sponsor, 
and was our champion in the House through 2018.

In 2016, we gained a Senate companion bill sponsored by 
Senator Maria Cantwell (seen below receiving an Awareness Day 
award), who continues to lead our Senate bill today.

Representative Reichert retired at the end of the 115th Congress, 
and beginning in 2019 Representative Jan Schakowsky (center below), 
who had long been one of our co-leads, became our new lead sponsor.